University of Texas at Austin

School of Information

Spring 2014

INF 389E Introduction to Records Management

Instructor: Margaret Hermesmeyer, MLIS, CRM

Course Unique Number: 28860

Course Meeting Time: Monday 6:00PM to 9:00PM

Class Room: UTA 1.212

Office Number:UTA5.456

Office Hours: By appointment

Email:

Description
Systems for controlling recorded information in an organizational setting.
Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

Course Objectives

  • Articulate what records management is, its purpose and the benefits it provides to an organization
  • Introduce the core principles of records and information management
  • Introduce students to the records management industry standards, best practices, and professional resources
  • To familiarize students with the evolving role of records management within an organization
  • Prepare students to apply records management principles, standards, and best practices

Text

Saffady, W. (2011).Records and Information Management: Fundamentals of Professional Practice. (2d. ed.). Overland Park, KS: ARMA International. 250 pp. Print ISBN:9781936654000. This book is available through the ARMA International online Bookstore at (click on the “Bookstore” tab at the top of the page and select product search.) The price is $60 for non-ARMA members and $40 for ARMA members.

Note: ARMA International offers discounts to its members on bookstore items. ARMA International is one of the premier professional associations for records and information management. ARMA International publishes the award-winning Information Management magazine. The association develops and publishes standard and guidelines related to records management. For more information about ARMA International membership please visit

Assignments

Class participation

Participation in class discussions related to the chapters in Records and Information Management: Fundamental of Professional Practice, 2nd Ed, and other required readings. (5% of course grade)

Lead a class discussion on one chapter from Records and Information Management: Fundamental of Professional Practice, 2nd Ed, (5% of course grade)

Consistent, positive and constructive class participation (10% of course grade)

Assignments (Continued)

Current Topic Presentation and Facilitate Class Discussion on the topic

Each student is to select a current records management topic to present to the class from the list of topic areas below. Other topics may be submitted to the instructor for approval. Visual aids are not required for the presentation, but are recommended for superior work.

The current topic presentation (30% of course grade) must be at least 10 minutes but no longer than 15 minutes and should:

  • Provide the class with a brief introduction to the topic
  • Provide the scope of the presentation and discussion
  • Describe the issues and challenges related to the topic within the scope of the presentation
  • Present current perspectives and methods for addressing the issues and challenges
  • Provide examples of standards, best practices, or other resources that may provide guidance related to the topic

The current topic discussion will be facilitated by the student making the presentation and be based on the current topic presented. The student will provide an article citation for an article related to the current topic for the class to read prior to the presentation. The article citation is due 14 days prior to the presentation date.The article citation should be sent by email to . The discussion should last at least 5 minutes but no longer than 10 minutes. (10% of course grade)

As the discussion facilitator, the student should:

  1. Discuss how the discussion session will be conducted
  2. Facilitate discussion among class members, for example:
  • Provide the opportunity for the class to identify and discuss additional issues or challenges related to the topic, or
  • Provide the opportunity for the class to identify and discuss additional solutions or perspectives for addressing the issues or challenges, or
  • Provide the opportunity for the class to identify and discuss additional resources that might address the topic, or if there are no volunteers you may ask the class questions about the topic

These online resources provide guidance for facilitating discussions:

  • “How to Facilitate Discussions,” University of California San Diego, accessed November 24, 2013,
  • “All About Facilitation, Group Skills and Group Performance Management,” Free Management Library, accessed November 24, 2013,
  • “Facilitating Discussion: A Brief Guide,” Cornell University, accessed November 24, 2013,

Assignments (Continued)

Examples of Current Topic Areas

  • Cloud service opportunities and risks for RIM
  • E-Discovery and cloud services
  • Information governance
  • Metadata sets to maintain for records
  • Microsoft’s SharePoint’s 2013 records management capabilities
  • Social Media issues related to RIM
  • Issues related to long term retention of digital information
  • Role of RIM in continuity of operations plan
  • Role of RIM in disaster recovery plan
  • Content management systems
  • Compliancy requirements for business records
  • Compliancy requirements for government records
  • Compliancy requirements for nonprofit organizations
  • Impact of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) on RIM
  • Dodd-Frank Act and how it relates to RIM
  • SEC regulations impact on RIM compliancy
  • Impact of where records management is placed within the organization’s structure
  • Information Governance Maturity Model as a RIM tool for improvement
  • Issues related to properly applying disposition holds
  • Role of RIM in information governance
  • Other topics may be submitted to the instructor for approval

Assignments (Continued)

Case Study Project Part 1 & 2

Students will work in groups of 3 to 4, to assess a scenario and develop a written solution or improvement plan, and present the plan to an administrative body as identified in the scenario. Each group is to select a case study project from the list of scenarios below. Visual aids are not required, but are recommended for superior work.

Case Study Project Part I (30% of course grade)

The written portion of the project must include a title page and an executive summary at the beginning of the paper. The paper must be aminimum of 20 pages including the executive summary. The paper should be professional and adhere to the most recent edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.All members of the team will receive the same grade.

The executive summary must be no longer than one page and it should include:

  • An introduction explaining what needs to be resolved or improved
  • An overview of the solution
  • A summary of the major points of the full document
  • A summary of the recommendations

These online resources provide information about writing an executive summary:

  • “Definition of “Executive Summary,’” eHow Money, accessed November 24, 2013,
  • “How to Write an Executive Summary,” eHow Money, accessed November 24, 2013,
  • “How to Format an Executive Summary Report,”eHow Family, accessed November 24, 2013.

Following the executive summary the paper should include:

  • An explanation of the current situation
  • Identify the current needs as well probable future needs
  • Identify inefficiencies and/or ineffectiveness
  • Identify the related risks and/or potential future risks

The solution or improvement plan should explain:

  • How the identified needs will be met
  • How it will improve efficiency and effectiveness for the organization
  • How it will mitigate risk
  • The estimated return on investment or a cost justification for implementing the solution or improvement plan

The paper is due on April 28, 2014, and is to be submitted by email, by 11:30PM, to .

Assignments (Continued)

Case Study Project Part 2 (10% of course grade)

In addition to the written portion of the project, the group will present the solution or improvement plan to the class. The class presentation has three objectives the group must meet. All members of the team will receive the same grade. Visual aids are not required, but are recommended for superior work.

  1. Present the scenario to the class.
  2. Address the class as the administrative body identified in the scenario, present a case for the need of a solution or improvement and present the solution or improvement including the elements from the written solution or improvement plan. Visual aids are not required, but are recommended for superior work.
  3. The presentation must be at least 20 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes.

Scenarios for the case study project

Scenario 1

You have been assigned to a team project in the records management division of a large company to design a proposal for a RIM employee training program and develop an organization wide RIM procedures manual. The team is to develop a proposal identifying the reasons why a RIM training program and organization wide RIM procedures are needed and how they will provide benefit to the organization. This proposal is to be submitted to the executive officer for administrative services.

Scenario 2

A midsized company is expanding. They have identified a need to add a new department responsible for records management. Your consulting team has been hired to develop a recommended staff organization chart for the records management department to manage the company’s RIM program. The board of directors expects to also see the functional areas of the program listed and a justification for each area. In addition they expect a statement of the anticipated benefit to the organization for each functional area of the program and list each area’s activities to be performed.

Scenario 3

Your company has been in one location for ten years. It is now expanding to include 3 branch offices. Prepare a report for executive management that outlines a solution for moving from a centralized RIM system to a decentralized system (or hybrid, or still centralized).

Scenario 4

You have been hired as a consulting team to develop a records retention schedule for a local company that has only been in business for three years. They have not had a records inventory done, so this will need to be done. Develop the records inventory process to conduct the inventory for the company. Prepare a report for executive management describing the strategy and process for conducting the inventory and the benefit of the inventory to the organization. Explain how to use the inventory to develop the records retention schedule.

Assignments (Continued)

Scenario 5

You have been hired as a consulting team to develop a records retention schedule for a county clerk. They have had a records inventory done, so this will not need to be done. Prepare a report for executive management describing the strategy and process for developing the records retention schedule for the county clerk’s office based on the previous inventory. In addition, include an implementation plan for the records retention schedule.

Scenario 6

You have been hired to develop and oversee a vital records program for a large corporation with locations across the country. Develop a vital records plan, an implementation strategy and maintenance strategy to submit to the corporate records manager. Include the RIM priorities for the organization’s continuity of operations plan (COOP plan) and RIM priorities for the organization’s full disaster recovery plan.

Scenario 7

A large state agency has hired you to recommend system requirements for a system that will manage all agency personnel files. The agency is preparing to develop a RFP and they need to determine the system requirements to include. There are 5,000 active employees. The annual turnover rate is 5%. Each personnel file contains between 5 and 50 documents with an average of 25 pages per file. There are 10 document types used in the personnel files. They do not know how many documents are added annually. The file must be retained 5 years after termination or retirement of the employee. In general, only the personnel office accesses these records. However, about twice a week they need to provide access to specific documents to a field office. There are ten field offices. The personnel division director does not want to retain the original documents. Identify the system requirements the agency should include in the RFP and provide the reason each system requirement is being recommended for the RFP.

Scenario 8

A large company is undergoing a reorganization of its information systems. There are 200 branch offices. There are shared databases across the branch offices. However, each branch office has been responsible for retaining its own hard copy records. Due to the nature of the business they operate from the database and the need to access the hard copy record is rare. There are certain regulations that require many of the records to be retained in hard copy for their retention period. Therefore, it has been determined that a records storage center is preferred to an imaging system for the solution. The company wants to develop its own centralized records storage center to which the branch offices will send their inactive hard copy records for the rest of the retention period. The company has hired you to develop the specifications for developing a records center, articulate staffing requirements and identify equipment needs.

Assignments (Continued)

Scenario 9

A small company has been very successful and is growing. They have several internal forms for processing, approvals and authorizations. They also have several forms for clients to submit requests and orders. Some forms are pdf forms that must be printed and signed prior to being submitted. Others are online forms. There is no title or version identification system for the forms. The records management department has identified the need for a forms management program and your team has been assigned the project of developing a proposal to present to administration for approval to create a forms management program.

Academic Accommodations

Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic

accommodations should contact the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement,

Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259.

Grading

Class Participation 20%

  • Participation in class discussions related to the chapters in Records and Information Management: Fundamental of Professional Practice, 2nd Ed, and required readings. (5% of course grade)
  • Lead a class discussion related to one chapter from Records and Information Management: Fundamental of Professional Practice, 2nd Ed,. (5% of course grade)
  • Consistent, positive and constructive class participation (10% of course grade)

Current Topic Presentation 30%

Current Topic Class Discussion Facilitation on the topic 10%

Case Study Project Part I 30%

Case Study Project Part 2 10%

Grading Scale

A = 95 points and above

A- = 90 - 94.9 points

B = 80 - 89.9 points

C = 70 - 79.9 points

D = less than 70 points

F = less than 60 points

For more information on standards of work, please consult The Graduate School Catalog also available on the Web at

Grading (Continued)

Late assignments will not be accepted unless the instructor gives permission at least 24 hours before the due date and a specific alternate date and time are agreed upon at least 24 hours before the original due date and time. The instructor will only grant this permission in the most serious of situations.

Make up work will not be accepted unless the instructor gives permission at least 24 hours before the due date and a specific alternate date and time are agreed upon at least 24 hours before the original due date and time. The instructor will only grant this permission in the most serious of situations.

Religious Holy Days
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a work assignment or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Course Schedule

Monday

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

January 13, 2014In class:

  • Introductions
  • Overview of course objectives
  • Review of class syllabus
  • Overview of assignments
  • Discussions:
  1. What records and information management (RIM) is
  2. History of RIM
  3. Life cycle of records
  • Assignment for next class: Find a definition for the term “record” and bring it to class on 1/27/2014 for the discussion on definitions of records. Please also bring the name of your source. There are various sources for a definition of a record. Some examples include:
  • ARMA
  • SAA
  • AIIM
  • ISO 15489-1
  • PCL Stacks -Q- HF 5736 I58 2001 (on reserve at PCL)
  • Merriam-Webster
  • Required readings for next classon 1/27/2014:
  • Kirsch, David A. 2009. "The Record of Business and the Future of Business History: Establishing a Public Interest in Private Business Records." Library Trends 57, no. 3: 352-370.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):
  • Andolsen, Alan A. 2008. "The Pillars of Vital Records Protection." Information Management Journal 42, no. 2: 28-32.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):
  • Dearstyne, Bruce W. 2006. "TAKING CHARGE: Disaster Fallout Reinforces RIM's Importance." Information Management Journal 40, no. 4: 37-43.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):

January 20, 2014 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day - holiday - No Class)

January 27, 2013

  • Readings required prior to class:
  • Kirsch, David A. 2009. "The Record of Business and the Future of Business History: Establishing a Public Interest in Private Business Records." Library Trends 57, no. 3: 352-370.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):
  • Andolsen, Alan A. 2008. "The Pillars of Vital Records Protection." Information Management Journal 42, no. 2: 28-32.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):
  • Dearstyne, Bruce W. 2006. "TAKING CHARGE: Disaster Fallout Reinforces RIM's Importance." Information Management Journal 40, no. 4: 37-43.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):
  • In class discussions:
  • Importance of how an organization defines a record
  • Examples definitions of records
  • Records as assets
  • Ownership of records
  • Types of records and their value
  • Vital records
  • Disaster preparedness
  • Chapter discussion leader assignments
  • Discuss Current Topic Assignment
  • Discuss Case File Group Project
  • Required readings for next class on 2/03/2014:
  • Saffady textbook, Chapter 1: Records Management as a Business Discipline
  • Brumm, Eugenia K., and Diane K. Carlisle. "STANDARDS: Building Blocks for a Strong RIM Program." Information Management Journal 39, no. 6 (November 2005): 30-39.
  • Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost
  • Persistent link to this record (Permalink):

February 3: Chapter 1